Windows 10: Anti-virus disables W10 firewall

Dear all

This is my first post. I thought I'd use it to revive an answer to a firewall problem in 2015!

Back in February 2015, Windows 10 legend @TairikuOkami came up with a really simple answer to a disabled Windows 10 firewall:

In the registry, make sure the start values are set to 2 (automatic start).

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MpsSvc]
"Start"=dword:00000002
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WdNisSvc]
"Start"=dword:00000002
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinDefend]
"Start"=dword:00000002

Why repost this solution? Because I had the same problem two days ago and almost nothing posted on that problem since 2015 came close to addressing the problem. Meaning that even people called Microsoft MVPs appear to be clueless about some long-standing problems that really deserve to have been better documented after all this time.
My specific problem: Avira disabled the Windows 10 firewall, greying out service interfaces properties. This made it pretty hard to work out how to restore the firewall and the consensus answer from so-called experts tended toward restoring a previous version or doing a new install of Windows 10.
That kind of answer just betrays fundamental ignorance and lack of care about treating PC users with a modicum of respect.

As an aside, Avira (and maybe other AV programs?) really deserves to be regarded as a bit of a virus in itself for not restoring firewall functionality after uninstallation, and providing no readily accessible documentation on this issue.
In regard to my problem, my windows version numbers and hardware platforms (both multiple) are irrelevant. I suspect if you experience similar problems, TO's answer will help regardless of OS v or HW specifics

:)

 

Help With Choosing Anti-Virus Software

Hey guys

I would like to know what some of the best anti virus programs are.

I am currently running NOD32 and the Nvidia firewall (came with mobo) and I find they slow down my games (singleplayer)

The guys over in the gaming threads suggested to just disable them while playing but I'm not sure I want to just in case you know.

So yeah bassically if you could give me some suggestions for anti virus and I will probably go back to using the windows firewall instead.

 

multiple anti-virus and firewalls

I got a message from my Microsoft application "Support Assist" saying "You have more than 1 antivirus software enabled. This can lead to conflicts that may impact performance." This is on my Dell Inspiron AMD 3655 Desktop, with Windows 10 Home OS.

When I click on "details" in the message, Support Assist shows that I have:

2 "McAfee Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware" products enabled,

1 "McAfee Firewall" enabled and

1 "Windows Firewall" enabled.

Under Support Assist's "security" tab, "Windows Defender" is "disabled."

I can't find a way to disable the Windows Firewall, however, or 1 of the McAfee Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware products.

How do I disable any of these security programs? Or enable them in the future? Also, which Firewall protects my Dell Inspiron better, the McAfee or Windows Firewall? Is McAfee Anti-Virus/Spyware a better protector or Windows Defender?

Alternatively, is it worth it to keep the double anti-virus/spyware programs and firewall programs for my data's safety, even if it slows my computer's performance?

 

Problem with Anti-Virus/Firewall settings?

Yeah, I did restart my browser, didn't help though.

I don't have any Anti-Virus software on my computer, and I disabled Windows Firewall (the only firewall I have on my computer).

I'm really stumped.. this is really weird. I'm really starting to think I have some sort of really weird virus or something. I can't figure out what else it could be.

Any other suggestions? Thanks so much for the help so far guys.